Centre for Behaviour and Evolution

Staff Profile

Emeritus Professor Paul Flecknell

Emeritus Professor

Background

Background

I started my career as a clinical veterinarian and became involved in medical research at the Clinical Research Centre, London, while acting as their laboratory animal veterinarian. After completing a PhD in physiology, I moved to Newcastle, where I was able to develop my major interests in the science underpinning animal welfare.

Roles and Responsibilities

I stepped down as Director  of the university research animal facilities in 2017, and now have time to focus on developing e-learning resources, and delivery of training on a range of topics related to animal welfare. I am also continuing to contribute to the work of the Pain and Animal Welfare Science group.

Qualifications

MA, VetMB, PhD, DECLAM, DLAS, DECVA, (Hon) DACLAM, FRSB, (Hon) FIAT, (Hon) FRCVS

Previous Positions

MRC Non-clinical scientific staff

Memberships

AVA, ESLAV, LAVA, LASA, AALAS

Honours and Awards

1981 Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship, 1986 Livesey Medal by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for work on anaesthesia and analgesia of laboratory animals. 1991, GV-SOLAS Prize for Laboratory Animal Science.1991 Hildegard Doerenkamp and Gerhard Zbinden Foundation for Realistic Animal Protection in Scientific Research - Scientific award for 1990, 1992 Canadian Commonwealth Fellowship. 1993 Research Defence Society - SmithKline Beecham Laboratory Animal Welfare Prize. 1996 WARDS Refinement Project Award, 1997 Honorary Associate, British Laboratory Animal Veterinary Association. 2002 CAAT Recognition Award for work on anaesthesia and analgesia. 2003 Solvay Pharmaceuticals prize, 2003. BSAVA/Blue Cross JA Wight award for contributions to companion animal welfare. 2004 BVA Dalrymple-Champneys Cup and Medal for contributions to animal welfare, 2005 International Academy of Pain Management Pfizer Award, 2006 Prince Laurent Foundation Award for Research Contributions to Animal Welfare, 2006 Eurotox/HSI/P&G Animal Welfare Award, 2007, FELASA Award, 2007, ICLAS Ben Cohen Award, 2008, Honorary Diplomate, American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, 2008, Honorary Fellowship, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons,2007 International Committee for Laboratory Animal Science "Ben Cohen Award" for contributions to Laboratory Animal Welfare
2007 FELASA award, for research work leading to advances in pain assessment and management in laboratory animals. 2009 Markovitz Medal, for contributions to pain alleviation, Academy of Surgical Research 2009 CAAT Charles River Refinement Award, 2011 Honorary Doctorate, University of Ghent, 2012 Charles River LASA Award to research group, for contributions to Laboratory Animal Welfare, 2014 SGV prize for animal welfare research, 2017 Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Animal Technology

Informal Interests

Bird-watching, photography, walking, cookery and computer gaming

Research

Research Interests

Welfare of animals used in biomedical research, and in particular issues associated with pain and distress. Comparative aspects of pain assessment and alleviation. Animal anaesthesia and the neurophysiogical effects of anaesthesia.

Current Work

Our research group aims to develop improved methods of analgesia and anaesthesia for use in animals. We are also interested in comparative aspects of pain and analgesia. We also disseminate this information by developing training materials for research workers.

Future Research

We aim to develop the comparative aspects of our research in pain assessment and alleviation. In particular, we are aiming to develop means of assessing the affective component of pain. We also aim to develop more humane methods of euthanasia of laboratory animals.

Esteem Indicators

Invited speaker at international conferences (eg World Congress of Veterinary Anaesthesia, World Congress of Anaesthesia, World Congress on Alternatives to Animal use in the Life Sciences). Awarded BVA Dalrymple-Champneys Cup and Medal for contributions to animal welfare (2005), International Academy of Pain Management Pfizer Award
(2006), Prince Laurent Foundation Award for Research Contributing to Animal Welfare
(2006) Eurotox/HSI/P&G Animal Welfare Award (2006)2007 International Committee for Laboratory Animal Science "Ben Cohen Award" for contributions to Laboratory Animal Welfare
2007 FELASA award, for research work leading to advances in pain assessment and management in laboratory animals.2008 Honorary Fellowship, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, 2008 Honorary Diplomate, American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, 2009 Markovitz Medal, Academy of Surgical Research,2009 CAAT Charles River Refinement Award, 2011, Honorary Doctorate, University of Ghent

Funding

Funding 2007-17 Wellcome Trust (249k), BBSRC (£307k), Solvay Pharmaceuticals (£38k), UFAW (£73k), NC3Rs (£380k), Pfizer plc (£85k), NC3Rs (£245k), NC3rs (£295k), ACLAM (£39k), Swedish Agriculture Board (£29k), NC3Rs (£300k)

Industrial Relevance

Our work on novel measures of affective state has direct relevance to pharmaceutical company research in both pain and addiction.

Teaching

Postgraduate Teaching

 Workshops on anaesthesia and pain management for research workers, veterinarians and others. E-learning modules for new and experienced research workers and practical workshops and seminars on anaesthesia and pain management of laboratory animals.

Publications